Earth working scraper



April 18, 1967 c. w. JONES EARTH WORKING SCRAPER 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1964 Q sg/ April 18, 1967 c. w. JONES EARTH WORKING SCRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7,' 1964 NNI April 18, 1967 c. w. JONES EARTH WORKING SCRAPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1964 United States Patent O 3,314,176 EARTH WGRKlNG SCRAPER Charles W. Jones, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to intercontinental Engineering-Manufacturing Corp., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 7, 1964, Ser. No. 365,602 Claims. (Cl. 37-129) This invention relates to earth working Scrapers and more particularly to an improved linking and lifting structure for effecting the controlled raising and lowering of the load accumulating bowl of an earth working scraper.

Large earth working scrapers having capacities in excess of 30 heaped yards are in common use in large construction operations such as the building of roadways, air strips and the like. Conventionally, such earth working Scrapers are linked to a power unit (c g. a tractor) by a fork-like structure that extends along and is pivotally secured to the outer side walls of the load accumulating scraper bowl at a point in back of the scraping blade and adjacent the rear of the bowl. Hydraulic means are generally provided for effecting the selective raising and lowering of the scraper bowl relative to this fork-like linking member. With this type of arrangement (i.e. a fork-like linking member), the width of the scraper bowl is necessarily limited to insure structural stability.` Additionally, one or more transverse support members are generally required between the side walls of the bowl to further stabilize the structure. As a result, the throat opening of the scraper bowl is reduced and the operational etiiciency of the equipment so constructed is diminished accordingly.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved linking and lifting structure for an earth working scraper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a linking and lifting structure for an earth working scraper which allows the side walls of the scraper bowl to be spaced apart a substantial distance without detracting from the structural stability of the equipment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved linking and lifting arrangement for an earth working scraper which Ileads to increased load capacity and to the realization of a large unobstructed throat opening that enhances the operational efiiciency of the equipment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment thereof, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view which illustrates an earth lworking scraper embodying the features of the present invention in one operative position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE l but illustrating the earth working scraper in an alternate operative position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view taken along the line 3 3 in FIGURE 1;

.FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 5 5 in FIGURE l.

In general, the present invention is directed to earth working scrapers wherein the conventional fork-like linking and cooperative lifting structures are eliminated and are replaced by an improved structure. Load accumulating scraper bowls adapted with the present invention provide maximum capacity without sacrificing structural strength or stability and have large unobstructed throat ICC openings that enhance the operational efficiency of the equipment.

In accordance with the present invention, the load accumulating bowl of an earth working scraper is provided with a heavy tubular beam that is mounted between the top front portions of the side walls thereof and in substantial spaced relation from the cutting blade of the scraper so that the inlet throat of the bowl is not obstructed. Since the tubular transverse beam for-ms an integral part of the scraper bowl, the spacing between the side walls thereof can be expanded to accommodate larger loads without sacrificing structural stability.

The lifting and linking structure, of which the tubular beam is but one part, insures that the bowl is securely connected to a power unit (eg. a tractor) so that undesired misalignment of the scraper frame stemming from the blade striking heavy rocks or boulders is eliminated. In this connection, a pivoted curved beam connects the power unit with the tubular transverse beam. A hydraulic actuating means is mounted on the curved beam and is independently coupled to the tubular beam to facilitate the selective raising and lowering of the bowl.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown an earth working scraper generally designated by the numeral 10, The scraper 10 is provided with an improved lifting and linking structure constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally designated by the numeral 11. As shown, the'structure 11 secures the front portion of the scraper 10 to a conventional power unit 12 (eg. a tractor), and the rearwardmost portion of the scraper is connected in a conventional manner to a rearward frame structure 13. The frame structure 13 accommodates a plurality of rear ground wheels 14 in addition to the actuating Imeans 16 for a load ejector that forms a part of a load accumulating scraper bowl 18.

Although the specific structural features of a major portion of the scraper bowl 18 do not form a part of the invention, certain of the more conventional features (i.e. the reinforced bowl defining members, the load ejecting means, and the load confining means) are illustrated in the drawings and will be briefly described herein. The purpose for this description is to insure that an appreciation is had for the manner in which the improved linking and lifting structure of the present invention'enhances the operational efficiency of an.. earth working.

scraper adapted therewith without either inhibiting the4` structural stability or requiring the .redesign of 'these morev conventional structural components.

In this connection the scraper bowl 18 is defined bya pair of reinforced side walls 19 and 2G that are secured shown, the tubular cross member 23 is secured to the top and forwardrnost portions of the side walls so that this cross member, which defines the upper boundary of the Vthroat opening 18a, is spaced a substantial distance from the scraper blade 22. Preferably, this tubular cross member is a multipiece element having a central segment 24 that forms a part of the lifting and linking structure 11,

as hereinafter described in detail.

The load accumulating scraper bowl 18 has the rearward wall thereof defined by an ejector blade 26 that is mounted on the bottom wall 21 and between the .side walls 19 and 20 for movement relative thereto. As

shown, the ejection blade has a generally concave innervv surface portion 26a that actually defines the rearward wall A reinforced .l

of the scraper bowl. A pair of selectively driven ram elements 27 (Le. preferably driven by hydraulic power) are xedly secured to the central region of the outer surface portion 26h of the blade 26 and in horizontal spaced relation to each other (FIG. 3). These ram elements, which form a portion of the actuating means 16 that is mounted on the frame structure 13, are selectively operated in a conventional manner to effect the forward advancement of the ejector blade 26 relative to the side and bottom walls of the bowl 18 whereby the discharge of accumulated material from the bowl is realized.

The final apparatus associated with scraper which is of relatively conventional design is the load confining means including a pair of piston-cylinder structures 28, one of which is lmounted in recessed fashion on each of the side walls 19 and 2t) just rearward of the tubular cross member 23 (FIGS. 1 3). The selectively actuated piston element 28a that is associated with each of the cylinders is ylinked to the oppositely disposed flanged end portions or lift arms 29a and 29h of a selectively operable, generally arcuate throat closing apron 29 that is pivotally mounted on the side walls 19 and 20.

More particularly, the rearwardly extending lift arms 29a and 29b are pivotally secured to conventional bearing members 30 that are mounted in the side walls 19 and 20, and the ends of the selectively actuated piston elements 28a are secured to lthe lift arms 29a and 29h just above the location whereat the mounting on the bearing members is effected. With this structural arrangement as shown particularly in FIGS. l and 2, the rearward advance of the piston elements results in the arcuately shaped apron 29 being pivotally advanced away from the inlet throat 18a of the bowl. In this connection, the apron 29 is preferably mounted so that it can be pivotally advanced to the point whereat the lower-most edge thereof is aligned with the tubular cross member thereby yielding a maximum throat opening 18a.

Correspondingly, when the apron is in a down position as shown in FIGURE l, the lower edge thereof bears against the reinforced scraper blade 22 thereby positively precluding either the introduction of material to or the discharge of material from the scraper bowl. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the upper flanged portions of the lift arms 29a and 29b have a generally U-shaped configuration so that when the apron 29 is in this fully closed position, both the piston-cylinder structures 23 are partially enclosed and are guarded from spill dirt.

The detailed features of the illustrated embodiment of Y the lifting and linking structure of the present invention are best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. As previously described, this lifting and linking structure 11 includes the central tubular segment 24 which forms a part of the tubular cross member 23, the remaining portion of this cross member being defined by tubular mounting segments 23a and 23h that are secured to and extend from the reinforced side wall 19 and 20, respectively. In this latter connection, the mounting segments 23a and 23b are preferably reinforced members that are secured substantially integrally with the upper forward end portions of the reinforced side walls. The mounting segments have flanged end portions that are positively linked to the central segment 24 by a plurality of fasteners 24a so that the completed tubular cross member 23 is extremely strong and provides adequate support for the side walls notwithstanding the distance therebetween.

The central tubular segment 24 has a generally cylindrical configuration and is formed with flanged end portions 31 that mate with corresponding flanged portions of the mounting segments 23a and 23b and accommodate the fasteners 24a. In addition, the tubular segment 24 has a pair of outwardly extending mounting abutments 32 formed integrally thereon (eg. by welding or the like) and in spaced relation from each other and from the flanged end portions 31. Both the mounting abutments 32 and the uppermost surfaces of the flanged end portions 31 have a generally teardrop configuration with aligned apertures formed therein to accommodate mounting pins 33. In this connection, the adjacent ones of the flanged end portions 31 and mounting abutments 32 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive mounting bushings 34 that are formed on the diverging end portions of a gooseneck-type linking element 35.

More particularly, the linking element 35 includes a pair of arcuately shaped connecting beams 36 that extend from a main supporting bracket 37 which is adapted to be connected in a conventional manner (i.e., a ball and socket connection) to a mounting lug 38.provided on the rear of the power unit 12. As shown, the outwardly extending end portions of the arcuate connecting beams 36 are suitably terminated at the mounting bushings 34 so that these members are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent ones of the flanged end portions 31 and mounting abutments 32. The mounting bushings 34 are also apertured to receive the mounting pins 33 as shown in FIG. 5, thereby facilitating not only the linking of the power unit to the scraper bowl 18 but also the pivotal movement of the linking element 35 relative to the bowl or, more particularly, to the tubular cross member 23.

That is, the pivotal linking of the element 35 to the cross member 23 is effected by locating the apertured mounting bushings in the regions defined between the immediately adjacent flanged end portions and mounting abutments provided by the segment 24 and thereafter passing the pin members 33 through the apertured portion of each of these members to effect the desired connection thereof.

In addition to providing a structural stable linkage that does not obstruct the inlet throat opening 18a of the scraper bowl 18, the gooseneck-type element 35 also serves as the supporting structure for the selectively actuated scraper Ibowl lifting mechanism. In this connection an actuating cylinder 41, which is preferably hydraulically controlled, is mounted on a support plate 40 that extends from the bracket 37 and between the lower merging sections of the beams 36. The cylinder 41 is preferably secured to the plate 40 by a yoke-like bracket 42 so that it is maintained in fixed relation with respect to the linking element 35.

The cylinder 41 accommodates a ram element 43 so that this member extends upwardly from one end portion of the cylinder and rearwardly in the direction of the scraper bowl 1S. The outer end portion of the ram 43 preferably has a yoke-like configuration and is fixedly secured in a conventional manner to a pin member (not shown) that is confined and suitably supported within a generally cylindrical housing 44. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 44 is mounted on the uppermost extremity of a lifting arm assembly 45.

The lifting arm assembly 45 has a tapered three sided configuration formed by two yarcuately shaped, merging side walls 45a that extend upward-ly from the upper surfaces of the mounting abutments 32 and a spacer wall 451': that extends from the tubular cross member 23 and mates with the side walls 45a. Preferably, the walls 45a and 4511 are formed integrally with the tubular segment 24 and with each other as by welding or the like'.

Since the ylinking means (i.e., the confined pin) for the ram 43 and lifting arm assembly 45 is confined within the housing 44 that is iixedly secured with respect to the cross member 23, any movement imparted to the lifting arm (i.e., in response to the inward or outward advance of the ram 43) is transmitted directly to the cross member and, therefore, to the scraper bowl 18. However, since the gooseneck-type linking element 35 is pivotally secured to the tubular segment 24, the actual response to this inward and outward advance of the ram 43 is the lowering and raising of the scraper bowl. That is, the selective actuation of the ram 43 results in the movement of the scraper between the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The manner in which the selective advance of the scraper bowl into cutting engagement with a surface is effected will best be understood from a consideration of FIGURES 1 and 2. With the scraper in its normal unactuated position as shown in FIGURE l, the hydraulic controls which are at the disposal of an operator are initially actuated to effect the opening of the apron 29. After this has been effected, the controls are further rendered eective so that the ram 43 is drawn into the cylinder 41.

Inasmuch as the lifting arm assembly 45, to which the ram 43 is secured, is fixed with respect to the tubular cross member 23, the inward movement of the ram is translated into an arcuate downward movement of the forwardmost portion of the scraper bowl 18. This generally arcuate downward movement of the forward portion of the scraper bowl is readily accommodated by the gooseneck-type linking element 35 which is pivotally secured to -the central tubular segment 24 of the cross member 23.

As a result of these operations, the scraper blade 22 is brought into cutting engagement with the surface therebeneath. Thereafter1 as the power unit is advanced, the scraper effects the pickup of the material engaged and severed from the surface :by this reinforced blade. After a suitable amount of material has been accumulated in the scraper bowl 18 (which is effected both rapidly and efficiently since the tubular across member in no way obstructs the inlet throat 18a of the scraper bowl), the hydraulic controls are again actuated to advance the apron to the closed position and lift the scraper bowl 1S from engagement with the surface. The latter operation is carried out in response to the outward controlled advance of the -ram 43 from the cylinder 41. After the scraper bowl has been advanced to an appropriate location whereat the accumulated material is to be discharged therefrom, the ram elements 27 are actuated in a conventional manner to elfect 4the `advance of the ejector blade relative to the side and between walls of the bowl 18 whereby the discharge of the accumulated material is realized. After this operation has been completed, the scraper is conditioned for further operations.

It will be appreciated that utilizing a single tubular cross member 23, which spans the distance between the side walls 19 and 20 and which is maintained in substantial spaced relation from the reinforced scraping blade 22, insures the realization of a large unobstructed inlet throat opening 18a without sacrificing the structural stability of the scraper bowl. Moreover, by utilizing a combined linking and lifting arrangement which is secured only -to this single tubular cross member 23, the reliable controlled actuation of the scraper bowl 18 can be realized without obstructing the inlet thereto. In this latter connection, the utilization of a gooseneck-type linkage that is -secured to the central segment 24 of the tubular cross member 23 in two spaced locations, insures that undesired misalignment of thescraper frame, which might stem from the blade 22 striking heavy rocks or boulders, is substantially eliminated.

It should be further understood that the foregoing de- -scription is merely illustrative of the invention. In this connection, the various components of the invention have been illustrated and described to most clearly portray the invention, and various of lthe obvious and well known additional reinforcing means and other structural details which might be employed as a part of a scraper structure `but which do not form `a part of the invention have not been disclosed in detail.

Finally, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications of the lifting and linking structure might be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the invention, various features of which are. set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An earth working scraper adapted to be connected to a power unit comprising: a wheeled support structure; a horizontally disposed lbottom wall secured to said support structure and including a forward horizontal edge; a pair of substantially spaced side walls secured to and extending vertically upwardly from said bottom wall, said spaced' side walls each including an upper end portion extending forwardly of said edge and spaced a substantial vertical distance above said edge so that said bottom and side walls define `a load accumulating scraper bowl having an inlet throat opening in the forward end thereof; ejecting means mounted on said support structure and located on said bottom wall and between said side walls for selective movement relative to said walls so as to dene the rearward wall of said scraper bowl when said ejecting means is in a normal position; a reinforced scraper blade secured to said forward edge of said bottom wall and defining the lower limit `of said inlet throat opening, a reinforced tubular member rigidly joined to and extending substantially horizontally between said upper end portions of said walls, said tubular member being spaced substantially above and forward relative to said scraper blade so as to deiine the upper limit of said inlet throat opening; an arcuate linking element having one end thereof conuectible with a power unit and the opposite end thereof lpivotally connected to said tubular member; an arcuate lifting arm secured to and extending upwardly from said tubular member adjacent the location whereat 'said linking element is pivotally connected to said tubular member; selectively actuable means mounted on said linking element for movement therewith and relative thereto, said actuable lmeans being secured to said lifting arm so that a substantial force is imparted to said lifting `arm and to said tubular member in response to actuation of said means to thereby pivot said scraper bowl relative to Isaid linking element and move said scraper blade between a ground-engaging and a ground-disengaging lposition; and a throat-closing apron pivotally mounted to said side walls adjacent said forward end of said scraper bowl, said apron having a lower closing edge and being movable into a closed position with said closing edge adjacent said scraper blade so as to close said inlet throat, said apron being further movable into an opened position with said closing edge positioned vertically adjacent said tubular member, whereby said scraper is provided with a large and unobstructed inlet throat opening for accommodating a substantial accumulation of material with said apron in said open position and said scraper blade in said ground engaging position,

2. An earth working scraper in accordance with claim 1 wherein said selectively actuable means includes a hydraulically actuated ram element secured to the free end of said lifting arm so that said actuable means imparts a force to said end of said lifting arm and to said tubular member in response to the linear movement of said ram element to thereby effective the controlled pivotal movement of said scraper bowl relative 'to said linking element,

3. An earth working scraper in Vaccordance with claim 1 wherein said linking element comprises a goosenecktype member having one end thereof connectable with a power unit and the other end thereof having a pair of divergent arcuate connecting beams extending therefrom, the ends of said connecting beams being pivotally connected to the central portion of said tubular member at two spaced locations, and wherein said arcuate lifting arm is secured to said tubular member between the pivotal connections of said connecting beams.

4. An earth working scraper in accordance with claim 1 wherein said throat-closing apron is arcuate iu shape 7 8 and includes side flanges disposed adjacent to and pivotal- References Cited by the Examiner ily connected with said side wall of said scraper bowl, and UNITED STATES PATENTS wherein said scraper includes power means to pivotally raise -said apron and align said yclosing edge thereof ver- 2216235 10/1940 French :Vl-126 tically adjacent said tubular member. 5 3090139 5/1963 Hancock 37-129 5, The invention according to claim 4 wherein said 31100345 8/1963 Bemotas 37-129 power means comprises a pair of hydraulically actuated FOREIGN PATENTS rams secured to sa1d side anges above sa1d pivotal con- 929447 6/1963 Great Britain.

nection between said anges and said side walls so as to pivotally raise said apron in response ito `linear movement 10 ABRAHAM G STONE, Pfl-mary Examiner- Of Said IZlmS- A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EARTH WORKING SCRAPER ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A POWER UNIT COMPRISING: A WHEELED SUPPORT STRUCTURE; A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOTTOM WALL SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND INCLUDING A FORWARD HORIZONTAL EDGE; A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED SIDE WALLS SECURED TO AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID SPACED SIDE WALLS EACH INCLUDING AN UPPER END PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID EDGE AND SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL DISTANCE ABOVE SAID EDGE SO THAT SAID BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS DEFINE A LOAD ACCUMULATING SCRAPER BOWL HAVING AN INLET THROAT OPENING IN THE FORWARD END THEREOF; EJECTING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND LOCATED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL AND BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID WALLS SO AS TO DEFINE THE REARWARD WALL OF SAID SCRAPER BOWL WHEN SAID EJECTING MEANS IS IN A NORMAL POSITION; A REINFORCED SCRAPER BLADE SECURED TO SAID FORWARD EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND DEFINING THE LOWER LIMIT OF SAID INLET THROAT OPENING, A REINFORCED TUBULAR MEMBER RIGIDLY JOINED TO AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN SAID UPPER END PORTIONS OF SAID WALLS, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER BEING SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE AND FORWARD RELATIVE TO SAID SCRAPER BLADE SO AS TO DEFINE THE UPPER LIMIT OF SAID INLET THROAT OPENING; AN ARCUATE LINKING ELEMENT HAVING ONE END THEREOF CONNECTIBLE WITH A POWER UNIT AND THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; 